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Nikon D5600 vs Canon M5

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Nikon D5600

24 MP | APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon D5600
$496.95

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Canon M5

24 MP | APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

Canon M5
$399.00

CHECK TODAY's PRICE
Nikon D5600 vs Canon M5 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Nikon D5600, which was introduced in November 2016 is a Entry-Level DSLR camera with a 24.0MP APS-C sensor whereas Canon M5, which was introduced in September 2016 is a Semi-Pro Mirrorless camera with a 24.0MP APS-C sensor. There is only 2 months difference between D5600 and M5 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Despite some fundamental differences of these two body types, Mirrorless cameras are becoming serious alternatives to DSLR cameras thanks to their size/weight advantages and recent improvements in their focus speeds , which makes this comparison even more interesting.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Nikon D5600 and Canon M5 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon D5600 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2016-11-10
  • 24MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • Optical (pentamirror) viewfinder
  • 5.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 465g. 124 x 97 x 70 mm
  • Replaced Nikon D5500 Compare

Canon M5 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2016-09-15
  • 24MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • 2360k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 9.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 427g. 116 x 89 x 61 mm

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon D5600 and Canon M5 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon D5600 over Canon EOS M5
Battery Life 820 shots vs 295 shots 525 more frames with a single charge
Flash Coverage 12.0m vs 5.0m 7m longer range
Color Depth 24.1 vs 23.4 higher color depth
Dynamic Range 14.0 vs 12.4 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO 1306 vs 1262 better High ISO performance
Sensor Pixel Area 15.28µm2 vs 13.84µm2 10% larger pixel area
Reasons to choose Canon EOS M5 over Nikon D5600
Number of Focus Points 49 vs 39 10 more focus points
LCD Screen Resolution 1.620k dots vs 1.037k dots 56% higher resolution screen
Viewfinder Coverage 100% vs 95% More accurate viewfinder
Continuous Shooting 9.0fps vs 5.0fps 4 fps faster
Weight 427 g vs 465 g 38 g lighter
Digital video stabilization Yes vs No Stabilizes your videos in-camera
Common Strengths of Nikon D5600 and Canon EOS M5
Wireless Connection Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Bluetooth Connection Yes vs Yes Connect to other devices via Bluetooth
Articulating Screen Yes vs Yes Flexible shooting positions
Built-in Flash Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
External Flash Shoe Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Touch Screen Yes vs Yes Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder Yes (Optical) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
RAW Support Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution 24 MP vs 24 MP Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Size 3.2" vs 3.2" Large display
LCD Screen Resolution 1.037k dots vs 1.620k dots Higher resolution screens
Microphone Port Yes vs Yes High quality audio recording option
Timelapse Recording Yes vs Yes creative shooting
AE Bracketing Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Selfie Friendly LCD Yes vs Yes Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
NFC Connection Yes vs Yes Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Smartphone Remote Control Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Support for UHS Memory Cards UHS-1 vs UHS-I Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds
Common Weaknesses of Nikon D5600 and Canon EOS M5
Image Stabilization No vs No No Built-in stabilization
Environmental Sealing No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Nikon D5600 vs Canon M5: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Nikon D5600 and Canon M5 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon D5600 and Canon M5. Canon M5 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 8mm narrower, 8mm shorter and 9mm thinner than Nikon D5600.

Nikon D5600 vs Canon M5 Camera Size Comparison - Front View


Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon D5600 and Canon M5.

Nikon D5600 vs Canon M5 Camera Size Comparison - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon D5600 and Canon M5.
Nikon D5600 vs Canon M5 Camera Size Comparison - Top View

Nikon D5600 vs Canon M5 Detailed Size Comparison

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon M5 is 38g lighter than the Nikon D5600 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Nikon D5600 and Canon M5 have the same APS-C sized sensor, their lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will be similar in size and weight.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

D5600
M5
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

D5600
M5
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon D5600 nor Canon EOS M5 provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top DSLR Cameras with Weather Sealing
Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon D5600 and Canon M5's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.2".

Nikon D5600 vs Canon M5: Sensor Comparison

Both Nikon D5600 and Canon M5 have APS-C sized 24.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.

Another difference between these two cameras is that Nikon D5600's sensor lacks anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the D5600 and M5 sensor size comparison.

Nikon D5600 vs Canon M5 Sensor Size Comparison


As seen above, Nikon D5600 has a 1.1x Larger sensor area than Canon M5. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

Both Nikon D5600 and Canon M5 sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, D5600 has scored 84, 7 points higher than M5.

What types of Photography are Nikon D5600 and Canon M5 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon D5600 and Canon M5 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Nikon D5600 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Canon M5 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Nikon D5600 for Street Photography

GOOD

Canon M5 for Street Photography

GOOD
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Nikon D5600 for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT

Canon M5 for Sports Photography

GOOD
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
9 Cross Type Focus sensors
39 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 820 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 9.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
49 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
No Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 295 shots
Read the details

Nikon D5600 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Canon M5 for Daily Photography

GOOD
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Large Body
465g
Body Thickness 70mm
Read the details
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
427g
Body Thickness 61mm
Read the details

Nikon D5600 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Canon M5 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Live-view
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Live-view
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details


Canon M5 vs Nikon D5600 Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. When we look at the available lenses for these two cameras, we see that Nikon D5600 has an advantage over Canon M5. There are 304 lenses for Nikon D5600's Nikon F mount, on the other hand there are only 20 lenses for Canon M5's Canon EF-M lens mount.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. None of these bodies have sensor based image stabilization so you have to buy lenses with Optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 101 lenses for Nikon F mount and 5 lenses for Canon EF-M mount with IS.

Lens Type # of Nikon D5600 Lenses # of Canon M5 Lenses
Standard Zoom 33 1
Standard Prime 20 3
Wideangle Zoom 33 2
Wideangle Prime 47 9
Telephoto Zoom 53 1
Telephoto Prime 43 2
SuperZoom 30 1
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 8 1
Macro Prime 25 n/a
Perspective Control Prime 11 n/a
Telephoto Mirror Prime 1 n/a
TOTAL 304 20
Nikon D5600 vs Canon M5: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Nikon D5600 and Canon M5, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Nikon D5600 and Canon M5 scores compare:

Nikon D5600
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #5 out of 77 in Compact SLR cameras
Ranked #83 out of 1190 in all Cameras
Canon M5
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #38 out of 68 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #95 out of 1190 in all Cameras

Nikon D5600 has a higher Overall Score thanks to its better image quality and more features compared to Canon M5. On the other hand the Canon M5 beats Nikon D5600 in two significant areas: Value for Money and Compactness.

If you are a price conscious buyer and looking for a small and relatively low priced camera where you can take everywhere with you, Canon M5 is the right choice for you.
If you are after the better photographic performance with all the advanced features, definitely get the Nikon D5600

Nikon D5600
Nikon D5600
$496.95

Canon M5
Canon M5
$399.00

Canon M5 vs Nikon D5600 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon D5600 Canon EOS M5
Brand Nikon Canon
Announced 2016-11-10 2016-09-15
Body Type Compact SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size APS-C APS-C
Dimensions 23.5 x 15.6 mm 22.3 x 14.9 mm
Area 366.60mm2 332.27mm2
Megapixels 24 megapixels 24 megapixels
Max Resolution 6000 x 4000 6000 x 4000
Max Native Light sensitivity 25,600 ISO 25,600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 39 49
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Nikon F Canon EF-M
Number of Available Lenses 304 20
Screen
Type Fully Articulated Tilting
Size 3.2" 3.2"
Resolution 1,037k dots 1,620k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder 2,360k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.55 n/a
Photography Features
Max Shutter Speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization No No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.00 m (at ISO 100)
Max Flash Sync 1/200s 1/200s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 5.0 fps 9.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 MP4, H.264, AAC
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 465g 427g
Dimensions 124 x 97 x 70mm 116 x 89 x 61mm
Battery Life 820 shots 295 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Optional None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 84 77
DxO Color Depth 24.1 23.4
DxO Dynamic Range 14.0 12.4
DxO Low Light ISO 1306 1262
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